NTPC to phase out inefficient thermal power plants with Rs 50,000 crore investment

NTPC will spend Rs 50,000 crore to replace 11,000 MW of ageing, inefficient plants with modern energy-efficient power stations, minister for power, coal, renewable energy and mines, Piyush Goyal said. The ambitious replacement programme is part of India’s efforts to increase energy efficiency and reduce the country’s carbon footprint, Mr. Goyal said at a function organized by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency. He said the power ministry was in talks with the environment ministry for clearances, which should not be a problem as it is a huge step in increasing energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions. He also urged state governments to work in mission-mode to modernize their 25 years old thermal power plants with new super critical technology. The minister said there were over 16,000 households in about 800 inaccessible villages in India which lack grid connectivity. The ministry will provide each such household a 300 KW Solar panel, 8-hour battery backup, 5 LED bulbs, an energy efficient ceiling fan and a solar power based mobile phone charging socket, all free of cost under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY).